Australian singer Kristin Berardi (center), winner of the 4th Annual Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition, was congratulated at the festival this year by event founder Claude Nobs (left) and Al Jarreau (right), who presided over the selection process.
Australian singer Kristin Berardi won first prize at the 4th annual Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition, which was held during the 40th annual Montreux Jazz Festival. Runner-up Jean Rohe from the U.S. was awarded a special prize based on audience voting. Harald Baumgartner from Austria placed third, followed by Norway’s Hildegunn Gjedrem.
Shure endorser Al Jarreau presided over the jury and musicians from Jarreau’s band accompanied the singers during their performances. Shure presented a ULX Wireless System to each finalist in addition to cash prizes donated by the festival. As this year’s winner, Berardi will perform at next year’s festival.
“The Voice Competition is one way Shure directly supports aspiring professional musicians,” says Ron Marchant, marketing director of Shure Europe. “We are more than delighted with the quality of the competition and we are sure it will keep building off the excitement and enthusiasm it has generated so far.”
For more information, visit www.shure.com and www.montreuxjazz.com/index_en.aspx.
